Bobby Pope: A look back at Macon Touchdown Club's players of the year

The Macon Touchdown Club has a pretty good record with its picks for the state high school player of the year, but not all turned out to be super stars at the college level.

This year's winner, who will be honored Monday during the club's annual jamboree, is Houston County quarterback Jake Fromm, a junior who is committed to Alabama. Back in 1979, the first winner of the award, named for longtime club secretary Elmo A. Richardson Sr., was Johnson County running back Herschel Walker, and we all know what kind of career he had. Let's take a look at the other winners and see how they fared after getting the honor (new Georgia coach Kirby Smart will be the featured speaker at this year's jamboree):

1980: Ken Hobby, Tift County, quarterback -- played one season at Auburn.

1981: Co-winners -- George Smith, Coffee, running back -- lettered one season at Clemson; Keith Montgomery, Stephens County, running back -- played two seasons at Georgia, starting one.

1982: Steve Boswell, Warner Robins, linebacker -- four-year letterwinner, two-year starter and defensive captain at Georgia.

1983: Vince Sutton, LaGrange, quarterback -- three-year letterwinner and backup quarterback at Alabama.

1984: Joey Hester, Cairo, quarterback -- four-year letterwinner and three-year punter for Georgia.

1985: Billy Ray, Dunwoody, quarterback -- signed with Alabama then transferred to Duke and was the starting quarterback for the Blue Devils' ACC championship team in 1989.

1986: John Johnson, LaGrange, linebacker -- played at Clemson and spent five years in the NFL.

1987: Curt Douglas, Lincoln County, linebacker -- three-year letterwinner at Georgia and a two-year starter.

1988: Mike Jones, Thomasville, free safety -- three-year letterwinner at Georgia and two-year starter.

1989: Andre Hastings, Morrow, wide receiver -- three-year starter at Georgia and spent eight years in the NFL.

1990: Eric Zeier, Marietta, quarterback -- four-year starter at Georgia and played six seasons in the NFL.

1991: Rodney Hudson, LaGrange, quarterback -- signed at Mississippi State and played in just three games in his only season on the team.

1992: Co-winners -- Derrick Steagall, Newnan -- quarterback, four-year letterwinner at Georgia Tech, playing wide receiver; Mike Bobo, Thomasville, quarterback -- lettered four years at Georgia, was Bulldogs' offensive coordinator 2007-14 and now is the head coach at Colorado State.

1993: Travis Stroud, Dunwoody, nose guard -- played in 38 games for Georgia with 22 starts.

1994: Takeo Spikes, Washington County, linebacker -- named first-team All American at Auburn in 1997, spent 15 years in the NFL with two All-Pro and two Pro Bowl selections.

1995: Quincy Carter, Southwest DeKalb, quarterback -- started three seasons for Georgia, played five years in the NFL.

1996: Jasper Sanks, Carver, running back -- played in 31 games during four-year career at Georgia.

1997: Joe Burns, Thomas County Central, running back -- fourth-year letterwinner and all-conference selection at Georgia Tech and played five seasons with the Buffalo Bills.

1998: A.J. Suggs, McEachern, quarterback -- signed with Tennessee but transferred to Georgia Tech for his final two years and started as a junior.

1999: Ronnie Brown, Cartersville, running back -- two-time All-SEC player at Auburn during three-year career and the second overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft by Miami.

2000: LeKevin Smith, Stratford, defensive line -- four-year letterwinner at Nebraska and spent five seasons in the NFL.

2001: Co-winners -- Jeff Francouer, Parkview, defensive back -- signed with Clemson but opted to play pro baseball instead with the Atlanta Braves; Chansi Stuckey, Northside, quarterback -- wide receiver at Clemson and played for three teams in the NFL.

2002: A.J. Bryant, Peach County, quarterback -- four-year letterwinner at wide receiver at Georgia.

2003: Darius Walker, Buford, running back -- played three seasons at Notre Dame and three years in the NFL.

2004: Tray Blackmon, LaGrange, linebacker, three-year letterwinner and freshman All-American at Auburn.

2005: Antonio Henton, Peach County, quarterback -- signed with Ohio State, transferred to Georgia Southern and then to Fort Valley State.

2006: Eric Berry, Creekside, defensive back -- two-time All American at Tennessee, two-time All-Pro with the Kansas City Chiefs, including 2015 season.

2007: Omar Hunter, Buford, nose tackle -- started 31 of 51 games he played in at Florida, freshman All-American.

2008: Branden Smith, Washington, defensive back -- played in 50 games with 26 starts at Georgia.

2009: Alec Ogletree, Newnan, linebacker -- three-year starter at Georgia and All-SEC in 2012, now plays for the Los Angeles Rams in NFL.

2010: Ray Drew, Thomas County Central, defensive end -- four-year letterwinner and two-year starter at Georgia.

2011: Jordan Jenkins, Harris County, linebacker -- four-year starter at Georgia and captained the defense his senior season.

2012: Montravius Adams, Dooly County, defensive lineman -- three-year letterwinner with one remaining season at Auburn.

2013: Lorenzo Carter, Norcross, linebacker -- just completed his second season at Georgia, where he was a starting outside linebacker last season.

2014: Trent Thompson, Westover, nose tackle -- recorded 25 tackles at Georgia as a true freshman this past fall.

Contact Bobby Pope at bobbypope428@gmail.com

This story was originally published February 15, 2016 at 1:26 PM with the headline "Bobby Pope: A look back at Macon Touchdown Club's players of the year ."